Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme (WOS-C) 2011

Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme is a special scheme by Government of India for the women scientists, that is being operated by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). The "Women Scientists Scholarship Scheme (WOS-C)" aims to train women having qualifications in science/engineering/medicine or allied areas in the area of intellectual property rights (IPR) and their management for a period of one year. Government is interested in retaining the scientific talent of Indian women seeking scientific pursuits and keen to encourage women to work from their homes and enabling them to draw a good balance between professional and domestic demands. The scheme is being coordinated and implemented by Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC) of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) on behalf of DST.

Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme

The selection of the candidates is done by an all India level written test followed by a rigorous interview. Selected candidates will be given stipend for one year. Training will include one month of an intensive orientation programme on IPR followed by specialized workshops and hands-on-training in agencies engaged in IPR protection & management.

Scholarship Amount for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme

The scholarship will be admissible for a period of one year and the amount of scholarship will be 12,500 per month for candidates having M.Sc/ B.Tech/ MBBS/ B.Pharma or equivalent qualification and 17,500 per month for PhD/ M.Tech/ M.Pharma/ MVSc/ MS/ MD or equivalent.

Long Term Objectives:

Empower talented and skilled women who have studied science, engineering, medicine and allied areas to contribute effectively in the advancement of science and technology in the country.
Develop a pool of women scientists geared up in creating, protecting and managing intellectual property in India.

Short Term Objectives:

Train talented and meritorious women, who have studied science, engineering, medicine and allied areas, in laws related to protection of intellectual property (IP), management of IPR, determination of novelty and originality of IP, ascertaining patentability of an invention, searches of databases related to patents and allied databases and other aspects of IPR; enabling them to seek specialized employment or be self employed.
Develop a core of professionals for preparing specialized reports based on IPR such as technology scan and freedom to operate reports.

Eligibility Criteria for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme

Women Scientist A candidate should be:

An Indian citizen.
Master of Science in physical sciences, chemical saences, life sciences or allied areas; or Bachelor or Master degree holder in engineering, medicine, pharmaceutical science, veterinary science or allied areas or doctorate in any of the above areas. Candidates with higher qualifications are welcome to apply.
Familiar with handling of computerized databases, surfing the net and information searches.
A candidate should not be more than 50 years of age on the date of advertisement in the Employment News on November 20, 2010.

Desirable Eligibility Criteria for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme

Experience in research, preparation of project reports, term papers and similar activities.

Coordination Centres for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme 2011

PFC is the nodal office having the overall responsibility of implementing the scheme throughout the country including training of selected candidates. It has set up three coordination centres, namely. Centre for International Cooperation in Science (CICS), Chennai; Indian Institute of Tech nology (IIT), Kharagpurand Unit for Research & Development of Information Products (URDIP), Pune for facilitating training of candidates.

Hands-On-Training for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme 2011

Hands-on-training would be provided at partner agencies of the scheme such as law firms. Knowledge
Processing Organisations (KPOs), companies and government agencies. The period of hands-on-training would be about 10 months.

Selection Procedure for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme 2011

Selection will be through an all India written examination and interview. The written test will be conducted in four cities namely, Delhi, Chennai, Kharagpur and Pune under the supervision of PFC and respective coordination centres. Similarly, interview of successful candidates in the written test will be held at these centres.

Application Procedure for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme 2011

Application must be sent in the format given at the end of the advertisement The application must be complete in all aspects. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
No column should be left blank. Write ’not applicable/nil’ if no details are available.
The declaration at the end of the application must be signed. Unsigned applications will be rejected.
Affix a recent self attested photograph in the space provided.
Applications sent through e-mail or fax will not be accepted.
Choose only one coordination centre for the written test and interview. The chosen centre will be responsible for arranging your hands-on-training in consultation with PFC.

Last Date for Receipt of Applications

The application must reach the coordination centre opted for by December 20,2010. In case of applications received only by post (by post/speed post) from the candidates residing in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Lahaul and Spiti District and Pangi Sub-Division of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep, the last date for receipt of applications is December 27,2010. The benefit of extended time will be available only in respect of applications received by Post/Speed Post from the above-mentioned areas/regions. In the case of applications received by hand or through Courier Service, benefit of extended time will not be available, regardless of the place of residence of the applicant.

Coordination Centres for Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme 2011

DELHI CENTRE: Director, Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC), Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), Vishwakarma Bhavan, A-Wing, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi-110016 Tel: 011 42525802,42525815,42525803, E-mail: s_nagar@tifac.org.in.
KHARAGPUR CENTRE: Dean, Continuing Education Programme, “Women Scientist Scholarship Scheme- TIFAC-PFC-DST, Continuing Education Programme, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal-721302, Telephone: 03222-28211/282112, E-mail: cep-off@hijli.iitkgp.emet.in
CHENNAI CENTRE: Honorary Director, Centre for International Cooperation in Science (CICS), 2, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Chennai-600025, Tel: 044-24430228, 24419466, 24901367, E-mail: cics2010@vsnl.net, ccstds@vsnl.net
PUNE CENTRE: Head, Unit for Research & Development of Information Products (URDIP) Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Jopasana, 85/1, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune-411038, Tel: 020 25382296,25383557-58, 25387209, E-mail: hirwani@urdip.res.in

Terms & Conditions:

Only 8 days of leave will be permitted during the training for one year. A candidate going on long term leave (beyond 15 days) will not be allowed to pursue the training further and no certificate would be given.
Candidates should be prepared for relocating themselves for training in and around coordination centres.
Candidates have to report to the Coordination Centre within one week of the orientation programme.
Candidates deciding not to join the training programme after the orientation programme, will not be given internship for the orientation programme.
No leave will be permitted during the orientation programme.
TIFAC will bo authorized to recover paid internship from the candidates who leave the programme in between.